Ariana Grande’s Best and Most Important Albums
As Ariana Grande releases her new album, eternal sunshine, this Friday, we’re looking at her discography and how well it holds up.
American singer, songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande has cemented her status as one of the defining pop stars of her generation thanks to her four-octave vocal acrobatics, iconic image, and an impressive collection of awards and chart records. With her powerhouse vocals, Grande seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of her greatest influences, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Her debut album, Yours Truly, produced by Babyface, highlighted her indebtedness to ‘90s R&B, but Grande soon began incorporating hip-hop and EDM elements into her music. The 2014 smash duet with Iggy Azalea, “Problem,” marked the first sign of her artistic growth, a development further reinforced by the hits “Bang Bang” and “Love Me Harder.”
Grande sustained her popularity with the release of Dangerous Woman in 2016, but truly hit her stride with 2018’s sweetener and its rapid follow-up, thank u, next. The title track of the latter album topped the Hot 100 Singles chart for seven weeks, a feat quickly matched by the album’s glitzy second single, “7 rings,” and later by positions, the lead single from her 2020 R&B-heavy album of the same name. In 2021, she began her next album cycle with the ‘90s club-inspired “yes, and?” With the album set to release in three days, now is the perfect time to revisit her discography and assess its enduring quality.
Essential
Yours Truly (2013)
Before her rise as a pop princess-in-waiting, Ariana Grande was best known for her role as the lively performer Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious and its spinoff Sam & Cat. Grande was widely regarded as one of the network’s rising stars, showcasing her quick comic timing and the quirky theater-kid charm she had cultivated as a tween Broadway star.
Ariana Grande’s debut album, Yours Truly, opens with a flourish of strings, swirling like the magic that transformed Cinderella into her ballgown. The following track, “Baby I,” starts with the iconic LucasArts THX intro just before brass hits snap into place like spotlights. These elements serve as overtures rather than hooks, setting the stage for the starlet’s grand entrance. Despite the clarity of vision throughout Yours Truly, the album still adheres to the pop-debut tradition of experimenting with potential new sounds while staying true to its R&B roots. Even if Grande had doubts about her ability to pull it off, they’re nowhere to be found, as she confidently sings in a moment of self-assurance that she would soon prove true: “It’s not hard.”
thank u, next (2019)
Ariana Grande’s album thank u, next had a profound impact on her career and the music industry. The album’s honest and vulnerable approach connected deeply with millions of fans worldwide, especially in light of the tragedies the artist has faced. The painful events, such as the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller from an overdose and the horrific bombing at her Manchester concert, brought an even greater intensity and depth to the personal and emotional lyrics. These experiences provided a strong sense of identification for those who have gone through difficult times in their own lives. Ariana has created a cathartic work that transcends the boundaries of fame and speaks directly to the personal experiences of her audience by sharing her journey of love, loss, and growth. The album became a defining moment in her career, cementing her status as one of the biggest voices and top pop stars of the 2010s.
Rewarding
sweetener (2018)
Ariana Grande was already working on her next album, sweetener, just a few months after releasing Dangerous Woman in 2016. The development of Sweetener, which would be released the following year, was deeply impacted by traumatic events that completely disrupted the singer’s life. These events included the end of her relationship with Mac Miller and, more significantly, the terrorist attack during one of her shows in Manchester. Sweetener became an unintentional reflection of these circumstances, a work that, as Ariana explains, aims to bring light to difficult moments, “sweetening” the situation.
Despite the regrets, the vulnerability that permeates Sweetener does not make it a painful record. On the contrary, it proves to be highly relatable and restorative, even though tracks like “no tears left to cry” and “breathin” carry a devastating depth beneath their bubbly 90s synthesizers. Pharrell Williams’ contributions were crucial in making this record a turning point in the artist’s discography and one of the most irreverent creations the mainstream has seen in the last decade. The producer managed to capture Grande’s personality like no other by proposing an escape from the formulaic and conventional structures of contemporary pop. His stripped-down production style, characterized by the pop-R&B mix of the 2000s, provided a comfortable and exquisite setting for the singer’s voice—it was in this environment that Ariana found her true self.
Dangerous Woman (2016)
Dangerous Woman cemented Ariana Grande’s status in the contemporary pop landscape. The album showcases Grande’s artistic versatility, featuring various musical genres, including R&B, pop, soft rock, and jazz. Throughout the project, Grande’s exceptional vocal abilities take center stage as she effortlessly transitions between high and low notes, displaying refined technique and an impressive vocal range. The meticulous production seamlessly complements her voice, creating a harmonious balance between the musical and vocal components.
It also signaled a maturation in Grande’s image, solidifying her presence in the music industry. The album propelled the singer to new heights of recognition and critical acclaim, establishing her as one of the leading pop artists of her generation. Through her artistic growth and thoughtful songwriting, the captivating pop star demonstrated her immense potential for future success in her career.
Supplementary
My Everything (2014)
On My Everything, Ariana Grande abandons the manic-Disney-dream-girl ballads that defined her debut album and instead embraces the bangers. The album marks Grande’s emergence as a genuine pop fixture rather than a charming novelty. Unsurprisingly, Max Martin, the mastermind behind countless millennial pop coming-of-age anthems, produced the album’s two lead singles. In contrast to the deliberately off-trend approach of Yours Truly, My Everything showcases a more astute grasp of what’s “cool,” even if it occasionally falls short. Grande confidently inhabits her era on this album instead of making vague references to a secondhand notion of “retro.” The self-proclaimed mini-Mariah proves she can hold her own in 2014, and while the standout tracks on “My Everything” may not be timeless classics, they undoubtedly feel perfect for the present moment.
Inessential
positions (2020)
Welcome to Ariana’s stable relationship box: Grande accompanied by positions either as a little kitten, who gently purrs and blinks sweetly into the camera with big button eyes, or, disguised as a big cat, breathes a little dirty lines over the sound carpet. The album was created when the singer was in quarantine with her then-ex-boyfriend. This may explain why every song revolves around their relationship, including all the fears, problems, and sexual desires that could have taken place in the intimacy of isolation. The circumstances of the creation process were less dramatic than those of the previous long player. The mid-tempo numbers do not come out of the quark despite numerous puns in erotic spheres. Grande does not deliver a total failure, only a few highlights and no big hits. The sound of the record also sounds almost hollow in its inconspicuousness.